About this project

$23,181

pledged of $20,000 goal

579

backers

Project Goals:

Both "The Professor" and "The Plaid Avenger" share this common goal: to motivate, educate, and inspire students of all ages to be fully engaged in the rapidly globalizing 21st century. In our increasingly connected and complex world, personal (and even our country's) success depends upon a global awareness and global engagement to meet the challenges of our time….and why not use the most creative and fun mediums like graphic novels, podcast videos, and interactive apps to accomplish this?

We do. The Plaid Team is an assemblage of one crazed college professor along with a small cadre of volunteer artists, writers, and techies who together strive to create educational tales of intrigue centered around this fictional character as he travels in the factual world. We aim to make education interesting and interactive using classic comic techniques combined with an interactive app dimension that incorporates video, maps, and lots of hidden features that contain exponentially more information that could ever be packed into a standard 28 page printed comic. With your help, we plan to create the most cutting edge and interactive educational comic book not just for classrooms of the future, but for the general public as well....because what’s wrong with getting smarter while reading something that is fun and interactive in its own right? Answer: Nothing wrong with that!

For over 5 years, the Plaid Team has been subtly experimenting with creating engaging textbooks and even a couple of stand-alone print comic adventures…and now we want to push the boundaries even further with a joint release of the #3 comic along with the expanded interactive iPad app or the adventure. For this adventure, we decided to take on one of the most critical issues in US security, but one that is not well understood or reported on: the Mexican drug cartel war. Fueled by America’s war on drugs, funded by America’s drug habit, and fought with weapons smuggled over the American border, this war is the closest to home and yet extremely misunderstood by the American people and policy-makers alike. Our primary goal with this print edition and digital interactive comic book is to present a more narrative approach to explaining the situation south of our border, creating an environment that encourages readers to expand their knowledge further while enjoying the classic campy comic story.

This is the future of education, and of graphic novels! Jump into the future with us. Join the plaid movement to make wicked cool classic comics into awesome educational tools…and fast! Learners of the world, unite!

Prize Packages:

$5 – [unlimited] Plaid PalThe early release of Plaid Avenger #3 comic in PDF formatOur eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version)

$200 [Limit of 20] Plaid PatricianOwn an original piece of the plaid avenger comic artwork! Each page is penciled on a 12” x 18.5 Bristol Board and will be signed by the artist, Klaus Shmidheiser. The first person to donate will get the first choice on their desired page, and then each subsequent donor will choose in order of when their donation was placed.12”x18.5” Original penciled page artwork (Signed by artist)The most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included)Wall art! 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #3The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions (shipped to you)The full-on revolutionary, evolutionary, non-pollutionary interactive Plaid iPad App!!!The iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head Sticker The early release of comic #3 in PDF format Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version)

$200 [Limit 20] Plaid PhilanthropistOwn an original piece of the plaid avenger comic artwork. Each page is inked on a 12” x 18.5 Bristol Board and will be signed by the artist, Klaus Shmidheiser. The first person to donate will get the first choice on their desired page, and then each subsequent donor will choose in order of when their donation was placed.12”x18.5” Original inked page artwork (Signed by artist)The most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included)Wall art! 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #3The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions (shipped to you)The full-on revolutionary, evolutionary, non-pollutionary interactive Plaid iPad App!!!The iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head Sticker The early release of comic #3 in PDF format Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version)

$250 [Limit of 20] Plaid PersonificationGet your own customized personal plaid caricature of yourself in the style of Plaid Avenger artwork, crafted by the Plaid Artist himself! Use this image as your online avatar! You will get a colored 11”x17” print .tiff file along with a “web kit” of various websafe sizes and formate for all your social networks!The most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included)Wall art! 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #3The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions (shipped to you)The full-on revolutionary, evolutionary, non-pollutionary interactive Plaid iPad App!!!The iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head Sticker The early release of comic #3 in PDF format Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version)

Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version)

$400 [Limit of 10] A Full-On Plaid Participant!You will personally appear in the comic book by image and name. This is a hot ticket item, only 10 seats, so don’t hesitate. You will become part of plaid history!The most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included)Wall art! 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #3The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions (shipped to you)The full-on revolutionary, evolutionary, non-pollutionary interactive Plaid iPad App!!!The iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head Sticker The early release of comic #3 in PDF format Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version)

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$2,000 [Limit of 5] Plaid Product Placement!The most bizarre and cutting edge in marketing, advertising, and graphic novels combined! We love this experimental idea! Instead of cluttering a comic with pages of ads..why not take a page from TV and film and go for direct product placement in our comic panes? Either the product itself will appear (and be hot-linked with a pop-up add in the app version) or you can choose to have your advertisement ‘billboard’ worked into the background of the story (your bar appears as the bar the characters walk into, or a billboard or graffiti of your brand appears in a scene.) How cutting edge cool is that?Personalized prop in the PA story: We will name the tequila bottle brand after you/your business. The plastic surgeon ad will feature your practice, etc. The cantina will be named after you, etc. Ideal for business owners and comics retailers.Things we know are applicable already: a brand of tequila, a brand of energy drink, a brand of Mexican beer, a plastic surgeon, a bar, a Mexican restaurant, any store front, a sports car, an SUV, virtually all weapons, narco-ballads, ...but any ideas you have are welcome...as long as your business if frontin’ the green! Be a part of the next generation of ads!

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$5,000 [Limit of 1] Comic Book Store Plaid Advanced PackageA full-on Plaid event at your store! Anything stunt you want, we will do it! And we will have fun doing it too!10 of the most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included)10 copies of 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #310 copies of The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions (autographed copies upon request)10 iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head StickerIn-store visit/signing by the Plaid Avenger himself, and the Plaid Artist Klaus Schmidhauser....and possibly the whole Plaid Team!

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$10,000 [Limit of 1] Personalized Plaid PartyA private plaid party brought to your pad, tailgate, or dinner party. This is so exclusive, we can’t even tell you what will happen. Also, to protect ourselves from various local, state, and federal laws, we can’t even elude to the possible firewater, fireworks, firearms, farm animals, fondue, and faux pas that might be included.

Suffice to say, a plaid party will come to you, and it is extremely unlikely that you will ever forget the experience..that is, if you can even remember it at all the next morning. Ever see ‘The Hangover’? A Plaid Party makes that scene look like potty-training. Nuf said. We recommend that no one purchase this plaid option.

Risks and challenges

Our main challenge is that all members of the Plaid Team have full time jobs…in other places! We are an unconventional grouping of souls that is much less of a 'business' and much more of a passionate bunch of experimenters that mostly create these products for the love of the game itself. In other words, we are inspired more by creation than by monetary incentive. Tons of labor, time, and dedication go into creating a comic, much less an app, and it is mostly done voluntarily. Having said that, it does take a lot of time and some monetary resources to write, sketch, draw, ink, color, and print a comic….and even more to create and code an entire iPad app, along with all the ancillary video/map production that this project will entail. Which is why we are doing a Kickstarter project to provide the necessary support for the app building process.

But we are well-equipped to get this job done, and we have a solid track record already so it's not like we are newbies to the scene, or the work involved. I myself have a couple of textbooks under my belt, as well as hundreds of hours of educational video podcasting already produced…and a solid reputation as en educator who teaches almost 4000 students a year at my university. The plaid artist Klaus is a seasoned veteran of the style having already produced 2 editions of the comic book, and maintains a disciplined schedule as well as an incredible work ethic. The same goes for our most awesome plaid web/app developer Kevin who is no stranger to hard work and has the track record to prove his skills. As for our plaid writing team, plaid Molly is studying rhetoric, writing, and media as well as writing about comics collaborations....and we also have a script consultant/writer "man in the field" down in Mexico, who for his own safety we will only refer to as "Señor J." And the plaid technology guru Katie has worked with me for years in content development and video creation/editing, and possesses the uncanny ability to make everything come together and work…she is the real dedicated engine of keeping the train on the tracks.

In addition, the writing for the #3 comic adventure is Mexico is already complete, sketching and inking have started, and we are on a strict deadline to finish this comic before January 2013: a deadline we most certainly will meet. The iPad app component will take a bit more times it is new ground for us, but we have never backed down from a new creative challenge, and we are all so inspired to see this become a reality that I am confident we will easily meet our March deadlines for the app as well. Overwhelming support from the Kickstarter community will assuredly put us over the top in terms of motivation, as well as material support to hire on additional labor, to make these ideas into reality.

Support this project

Select this reward

Pledge $5 or more
About $5

PLAID PAL PACKAGE: The early release of Plaid Avenger #3 comic in PDF format. Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

PLAID PATRICIAN PACKAGE: Own an original piece of the plaid avenger comic artwork! Each page is penciled on a 12” x 18.5 Bristol Board and will be signed by the artist, Klaus Shmidheiser. The first person to donate will get the first choice on their desired page, and then each subsequent donor will choose in order of when their donation was placed. The most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included). Wall art! 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #3. The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions. The full-on revolutionary, evolutionary, non-pollutionary interactive Plaid iPad App! The iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head Sticker. The early release of comic #3 in PDF format. Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

PLAID PHILANTHROPIST PACKAGE: Own an original piece of the plaid avenger comic artwork. Each page is inked on a 12” x 18.5 Bristol Board and will be signed by the artist, Klaus Shmidheiser. The first person to donate will get the first choice on their desired page, and then each subsequent donor will choose in order of when their donation was placed. The most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included). Wall art! 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #3. The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions. The full-on revolutionary, evolutionary, non-pollutionary interactive Plaid iPad App! The iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head Sticker. The early release of comic #3 in PDF format. Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

PLAID PERSONIFICATION PACKAGE: Get your own customized personal plaid caricature of yourself in the style of Plaid Avenger artwork, crafted by the Plaid Artist himself! Use this image as your online avatar! You will get a colored 11”x17” print .tiff file along with a “web kit” of various websafe sizes and formate for all your social networks! The most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included) Wall art! 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #3. The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions. The full-on revolutionary, evolutionary, non-pollutionary interactive Plaid iPad App! The iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head Sticker. The early release of comic #3 in PDF format. Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $400 or more
About $400

A FULL-ON PLAID PARTICIPANT! You will personally appear in the comic book by image and name. This is a hot ticket item, only 10 seats, so don’t hesitate. You will become part of plaid history! The most outstanding drinking vessel, ever: The Plaid Pint Glass (beverage not included). Wall art! 24” x 36” Poster of cover of PA #3. The COMPLETE Plaid Avenger Comic series #1, #2, #3 print editions. The full-on revolutionary, evolutionary, non-pollutionary interactive Plaid iPad App! The iconic and/or iconoclastic Plaid Avenger Head Sticker. The early release of comic #3 in PDF format. Our eternal thanks, made digitally eternal by listing your name on the most permanent of plaid pages: The Thank You! page of donors (in PDF version).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,000 or more
About $2,000

PLAID PRODUCT PLACEMENT PACKAGE: The most bizarre and cutting edge in marketing, advertising, and graphic novels combined! We love this experimental idea! Instead of cluttering a comic with pages of ads..why not take a page from TV and film and go for direct product placement in our comic panes? Either the product itself will appear (and be hot-linked with a pop-up add in the app version) or you can choose to have your advertisement ‘billboard’ worked into the background of the story (your bar appears as the bar the characters walk into, or a billboard or graffiti of your brand appears in a scene.) How cutting edge cool is that?
Personalized prop in the PA story: We will name the tequila bottle brand after you/your business. The plastic surgeon ad will feature your practice, etc. The cantina will be named after you, etc. Ideal for business owners and comics retailers.
Things we know are applicable already: a brand of tequila, a brand of energy drink, a brand of Mexican beer, a plastic surgeon, a bar, a Mexican restaurant, any store front, a sports car, an SUV, virtually all weapons, narco-ballads, ...but any ideas you have are welcome...as long as your business if frontin’ the green! Be a part of the next generation of ads!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

A private plaid party brought to your pad, tailgate, or dinner party. This is so exclusive, we can’t even tell you what will happen. Also, to protect ourselves from various local, state, and federal laws, we can’t even elude to the possible firewater, fireworks, firearms, farm animals, fondue, and faux pas that might be included.

Suffice to say, a plaid party will come to you, and it is extremely unlikely that you will ever forget the experience..that is, if you can even remember it at all the next morning. Ever see ‘The Hangover’? A Plaid Party makes that scene look like potty-training. Nuf said. We recommend that no one purchase this plaid option.